50 Cent
As the world of Rap Music hangs up it’s bling and sweatpants for another year, we at FemaleFirst decided to take a look at the top stories that have shaped the news over the past year.
The Game claims that his third studio album L.A.X (Life and Times) will be his last. After stating that he has achieved all he can in three albums, it’s game over for this well-loved artist.
Well loved musicians 50 Cent, Wyclef Jean and Timbaland are under investigation for steroid trafficking after New York Times’ Union accused them of using Steroids and HGH (Human Growth Hormone) to enhance their looks and slow down the effects of aging.
Not so slim anymore, Eminem was rushed into hospital weighing more than 200 pounds. Marshall Mathers ballooned after he was admitted to a Detroit hospital with complications due to Pneumonia.
Nate Dogg has been paralyzed on the left side of his body after his stroke in December. Not one to roll over and stay put, he immediately declared to his fans that he would be back in the studio as soon as he was better.
Christina Norman has resigned as MTV president after 17 years at the network. Her methods of increasing celebrity focused entertainment boosted ratings.
The Game was sentenced to two months in a California jail for violent and threatening behaviour with firearms. The gangster rapper was also ordered to complete 150 hours of community service.
TVT Records, the hip hop label of artists such as Lil Jon, Ying Yang Twins and Pitbull, has filed for bankruptcy after firing the majority of their staff due to compensatory damages.
Static Major has died after an alleged brain aneurism. Famous for his work with Aaliyah and Lil Wayne, the producer and songwriter was only 32. Cheers to you Major.
Fat Joe and 50 Cent’s ongoing squabble is still not over. After appearing on Rap City, they showed their mutual hatred is still going strong. 50 Cent claimed he wanted to “eliminate†Fat Joe from the rap game altogether, whereas the following week, Joe named, the “candy shop†singer a “clown.â€
Rumours that Def Jam Records have dropped Ludacris’s label Disturbing Tha Peace have been quashed when L.A Reid re-signed a long term distribution deal with the Atlanta based record label, also known as DTP.
G-Unit’s Whoo Kid said he is fed up of hip hop and is ready to retire. Wanting to control his own career and destiny, the DJ that helped boost 50 Cent’s career is moving to Thailand to leave the limelight.
P.Diddy denied a claim by LA Times that he was in on the death of Tupac Shakur. Labelling the accusations as “beyond ridiculous and completely false†Diddy claimed that a simple investigation would prove how ludicrous the claims actually were.
T.I was arrested a mere few hours before his schedule appearance at the BET hip hop awards. A convicted felon, he was charged with the possession of machine guns which his bodyguard picked up for him.
Nate Dogg pleaded guilty for aggravated trespassing and battery resulting from a domestic violence charge the previous years.
He might have 99 problems, but paying the bills is sure not one of them for Jay-z who discussed signing a ten year contract with Live Nation for a $150 million deal. The venture would cover the artist for all his other business endeavors as well as future albums, tempting the rapper to finally leave Def Jam Records.
Hip hop mogul Jermain Dupree is set to be president of new label Tag Records. Island Def Jam Music Group and TAG Body Spray are set to launch the label which will allow unknown artists a unique amount of coverage and attention, never before seen in this industry.
Snoop Dogg’s visa ban finally came to an end after a judge found him “innocent.†The rapper is set to return to the UK fo shizzle in the upcoming year.
VL Mike was the seventh murder in just four days in New Orleans. Shot dead by an unidentified man in broad daylight, the Chopper City Boyz rapper was 32.
DMX has been arrested after his house in Arizona was searched. Police arrested the “Year of the Dog†artist after drugs and weapons were found, along with dead animal carcasses and 13 distressed pitbulls.
Suge Knight was knocked unconscious and hospitalized after a brawl in an LA night club. Not a good year for Knight, the Death Row Records founder later on filed for bankruptcy and was forced to sell his label for $24 million.
Mass Appeal Magazine calls it a day with the print edition, despite having more than 50 successful issues over 12 years. They will continue to update online content and organize events.
Rick Ross’ Trilla album was named the first album of 2008 to reach Gold status. After only one week at the top, the album reached just under 200,000 copies, going straight to #1. The fast sales are said to be a result of the heavy airplay his single “The Boss†received.
Polow da Don was named the Songwriter of the Year in recognition of his work on Fergie’s “Glamorousâ€, The Pussycat Dolls’ “Buttons†and Mary J. Blige’s “Runaway Loveâ€.
After dispute over the handling of his last album Back by Thug Demand, Trick Daddy leaves Slip-N-Slide Records signing himself to own label Dunk Ryder Records.
Shakir Stewart has been promoted from Senior VP to Executive VP of Dem Jam Records where he will have the power to guide producers and acquire and develop new talents.
DMX was arrested for the third time in only two months. On this occasion, he was found driving without a valid driving license when only the previous month, he had his license suspended.
The Game has yet again played hide and seek with his album L.A.X pushing its release date from July 8 to July 15 and then again to July 22. Fans wonder if they will ever see the “final†album by the rapper, but he then declared he plans on doing a fourth album entitled D.O.C (Diary of Compton).
Lil Wayne’s album Tha Carter III has sold over a million copies in only its first week on sale – the first person to do so since 50 Cent’s The Massacre album in 2005. Thanks to the extensive airtime single Lollipop received, it went straight to #1, staying there for five non-consecutive weeks.
FemaleFirst - Karen Asbury
As the world of Rap Music hangs up it’s bling and sweatpants for another year, we at FemaleFirst decided to take a look at the top stories that have shaped the news over the past year.
The Game claims that his third studio album L.A.X (Life and Times) will be his last. After stating that he has achieved all he can in three albums, it’s game over for this well-loved artist.
Well loved musicians 50 Cent, Wyclef Jean and Timbaland are under investigation for steroid trafficking after New York Times’ Union accused them of using Steroids and HGH (Human Growth Hormone) to enhance their looks and slow down the effects of aging.
Not so slim anymore, Eminem was rushed into hospital weighing more than 200 pounds. Marshall Mathers ballooned after he was admitted to a Detroit hospital with complications due to Pneumonia.
Nate Dogg has been paralyzed on the left side of his body after his stroke in December. Not one to roll over and stay put, he immediately declared to his fans that he would be back in the studio as soon as he was better.
Christina Norman has resigned as MTV president after 17 years at the network. Her methods of increasing celebrity focused entertainment boosted ratings.
The Game was sentenced to two months in a California jail for violent and threatening behaviour with firearms. The gangster rapper was also ordered to complete 150 hours of community service.
TVT Records, the hip hop label of artists such as Lil Jon, Ying Yang Twins and Pitbull, has filed for bankruptcy after firing the majority of their staff due to compensatory damages.
Static Major has died after an alleged brain aneurism. Famous for his work with Aaliyah and Lil Wayne, the producer and songwriter was only 32. Cheers to you Major.
Fat Joe and 50 Cent’s ongoing squabble is still not over. After appearing on Rap City, they showed their mutual hatred is still going strong. 50 Cent claimed he wanted to “eliminate†Fat Joe from the rap game altogether, whereas the following week, Joe named, the “candy shop†singer a “clown.â€
Rumours that Def Jam Records have dropped Ludacris’s label Disturbing Tha Peace have been quashed when L.A Reid re-signed a long term distribution deal with the Atlanta based record label, also known as DTP.
G-Unit’s Whoo Kid said he is fed up of hip hop and is ready to retire. Wanting to control his own career and destiny, the DJ that helped boost 50 Cent’s career is moving to Thailand to leave the limelight.
P.Diddy denied a claim by LA Times that he was in on the death of Tupac Shakur. Labelling the accusations as “beyond ridiculous and completely false†Diddy claimed that a simple investigation would prove how ludicrous the claims actually were.
T.I was arrested a mere few hours before his schedule appearance at the BET hip hop awards. A convicted felon, he was charged with the possession of machine guns which his bodyguard picked up for him.
Nate Dogg pleaded guilty for aggravated trespassing and battery resulting from a domestic violence charge the previous years.
He might have 99 problems, but paying the bills is sure not one of them for Jay-z who discussed signing a ten year contract with Live Nation for a $150 million deal. The venture would cover the artist for all his other business endeavors as well as future albums, tempting the rapper to finally leave Def Jam Records.
Hip hop mogul Jermain Dupree is set to be president of new label Tag Records. Island Def Jam Music Group and TAG Body Spray are set to launch the label which will allow unknown artists a unique amount of coverage and attention, never before seen in this industry.
Snoop Dogg’s visa ban finally came to an end after a judge found him “innocent.†The rapper is set to return to the UK fo shizzle in the upcoming year.